What Can Motion and Sound Bring to Infographics?

Animated and video-based infographics (these terms can be used interchangeably) give you the opportunity to present stories in ways that provide more depth and perspective than static infographics. Such stories can include highly complex processes, mechanical illustrations, or long stories.

How do you know when opting for an animated infographic is the best idea? That will most likely depend on the amount of information you have or the complexity of the story you need to tell. But mostly, the question you need to answer is deciding the best format to explain the information at hand.

People are visual, and motion speaks to people in a way that static imagery simply can’t. To be sure, a static infographic can have a similar effect, but it’s not nearly as powerful.

For example, infographics that include motion can help explain how the gears of a watch work by truly showing the viewer.

Motion infographics also allow you to tell the story in the exact order you want and be sure that viewers are consuming it as you intended. After all, with a static infographic, you can never really be sure whether viewers read the piece as you intended. If you’ve created the piece effectively, you have a good idea that they have, but you can never be totally sure.

With a motion infographic, though, that concern isn’t present. After all, nobody is going to start a video in the middle.

Most animated or video infographics also will include a sound element, which could be a piece of music, sound effects, or voice narration — usually a combination of all three. Sound gives you just another tool to help clearly, cleverly, and effectively explain the topic at hand. Sound is important in motion graphics for

Establishing a mood

Creating a sense of authority

Connecting viewers

Providing emotional depth

There’s a narrated infographic on discovering celestial objects that used an outer-space backdrop, spinning asteroids, and mystical music to accomplish all of these effects.

Motion infographics are much more complex and expensive to produce than static infographics, but they give you such a unique method for storytelling that it’s critical not to overlook them as important tools.